Cherry Lola Treatment: Everything You Need to Know 

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase.

Embracing your natural hair in all of its full, lush glory is a lifelong journey of self-love and self-discovery.

But naturals know it’s not all roses and bouncy curls when it comes to natural hair care. 

Most days, women with naturally kinky, Afro-textured hair struggle with a head of dry, frizzy curls that refuse to be tamed! 

If you’ve ever thrown your hair brush against the wall after failing to work through knots and tangles, you’re not alone. 

Luckily, a few clever curlies have come up with various solutions to common hair woes in the natural hair community. 

One of the best and most widely used treatments for dry, brittle, and lifeless hair? The Cherry Lola treatment! 

Whether you’re hearing about this miracle method for the first time or finding it hard to carry out, we’re here to help. 

Read on as we discuss the benefits, ingredients, steps, and modified versions of the popular Cherry Lola Treatment in-depth. 

What Is The Cherry Lola Treatment?

Mistakenly called the lola cherry treatment at times, the Cherry Lola treatment is a DIY conditioning treatment for natural hair.  

Cherry Lola — a YouTuber whose original video of the treatment has now garnered over 100,000 views — came up with the treatment in 2009. 

Since then, it’s been hailed as a powerhouse solution to frizz and dryness, amassing a huge following among folks with kinky, low-porosity hair. 

The secret to its success? Three cheap, easily accessible organic products with a formula that emphasizes hydration and moisture retention. 

This treatment uses only baking soda, yogurt, and liquid amino acids to condition and strengthen hair, heal damage, and restore shine. 

Benefits of the Cherry Lola Treatment

So exactly how and why does the Cherry Lola hair treatment work? 

In a nutshell, the defining principle of this method can be summed up in six words: simple ingredients, complex, multi-beneficial uses. 

Here’s a detailed rundown of the major benefits of using the Cherry Lola treatment: 

Strengthens and nourishes hair 

Yogurt makes up a huge chunk of the recipe, and for good reason. 

Armed with protein and lactic acid, this nutrient-dense pantry staple nourishes, strengthens, and moisturizes the hair to prevent hair fall and breakage. 

But what truly sets the Cherry Lola treatment apart from other trendy hair masks is its use of amino acids. 

In fact, natural hair enthusiasts claim that this was the first to highlight the benefits of using amino acids in healthy hair care. 

The hair shaft, which is the visible part of the hair above the scalp, is primarily made up of keratin. Keratin, in turn, is composed of 18 types of amino acids. 

Amino acids strengthen the hair shaft and boost keratin production. These functions encourage hair growth and allow your locks to remain strong, shiny, and healthy. 

Improves hydration and texture

By strengthening the hair shaft, amino acids also help increase your hair’s ability to retain moisture. 

Certain amino acids also naturally attract water and draw moisture to dehydrated hair. 

Additionally, baking soda makes the hair more porous! It opens up the hair cuticles and allows them to absorb more water.  

As a result, the Cherry Lola Treatment works wonders on hair texture and elasticity. 

Rough, frizzy curls are almost always a result of moisture loss, which means improved hydration can transform them into bouncy, silky smooth tresses. 

Cleanses the scalp and reduces dandruff 

Baking soda and yogurt in the Cherry Lola hair treatment work together to cleanse and exfoliate the scalp. 

Yogurt contains lactic acid, a potent chemical that deep cleans your scalp and rids it of dirt, oil, and product buildup. 

What’s more, the anti-fungal nature of yogurt aids in balancing the pH levels of the scalp to reduce itch and dandruff.

To amp up yogurt’s cleansing power even more, baking soda is added as one of the major players in the Cherry Lola recipe. 

Baking soda strips away all traces of product buildup from your hair and scalp to fight dull, frizzy, and oily hair.   

Repairs and protects against damage

Addicted to dyeing and using heat-styling tools on your hair? While your overall look gets a major boost from these styling techniques, your tresses often get the short end of the stick. 

The great news is the Cherry Lola treatment can help repair surface damage! Both yogurt and amino acids can increase your hair’s hydration levels to replenish dry, brittle strands as well as boost healthy hair growth. 

Better yet, it can also protect your hair against harmful environmental elements that cause damage in the first place! 

Antioxidants found in amino acids shield your delicate strands against UV damage and other factors that contribute to hair loss.

Enhances shine and vibrance 

You can’t keep nourished, moisturized hair a secret. Once the Cherry Lola treatment helps restore your hair health, you’ll see a visible improvement in the natural shine of your curls! 

Using this treatment on color-treated hair can be beneficial as well. Not only does it reverse the damage brought about by hair dye, but it also helps preserve your hair color longer. 

Fun fact: dry hair tends to make hair color fade faster! By keeping your hair hydrated, the Cherry Lola treatment allows you to maintain those colored locks with ease. 

Detangles hair and promotes curl definition 

Pesky, difficult-to-brush tangles are pretty high up on curlies’ list of woes. Luckily, the Cherry Lola treatment can help. 

It relaxes your hair and loosens curls temporarily, allowing you to go through tangles with less effort. However, it cannot make your hair straight. 

Instead, it gives you gorgeous, frizz-free, well-defined curls!  

Who Can Use the Cherry Lola Treatment?

As you can guess from its primary benefits, the Cherry Lola treatment focuses on proper hydration and nourishment for the driest of hair types — type 4 hair. 

So if you’ve got tight, dense coils that are constantly thirsty, you’re sure to get the most out of this method! 

The Cherry Lola treatment for low-porosity hair is specially formulated to help your hair hold on to moisture as well as improve its texture and definition.

In other words, the Cherry Lola treatment works on 4c hair like a charm!

That said, this hair hack offers benefits for all hair types, including those with type 3 hair, relaxed hair, or those transitioning from relaxed to natural hair. 

Its nutrient- and moisture-rich formula can rehydrate your hair and restore its strength, making it less fragile and prone to breakage. 

Cherry Lola Treatment: Ingredients, Steps, & Tips

Ingredients

• 1 to 2 cups or 400g of plain, full-fat Greek yogurt
• 2 to 3 tablespoons of baking soda
• 2 tablespoons of Braggs Liquid Aminos

Steps

1. Mix all three ingredients in a large and clean container until they form a thick, brownish solution.
2. Part your clean, dry hair into four to 10 sections depending on your preference. 
3. Secure each section with an elastic band. 
4. Apply the mixture onto each section from root to tip. See to it that all the sections are fully covered.
5. Twist each section after application to avoid tangling. 
6. Cover your hair with a shower cap. 
7. Let the treatment sit for 30 to 40 minutes. 
8. Rinse it off with a co-wash. Add styling products after washing as desired. 

Tips

• Don’t panic if the mixture bubbles up! It just means that the baking soda is activated. 
• Detangle your hair as you apply the treatment for best results. 
• Use the “praying hands” method to cover your hair with the mixture. This involves applying a small amount of the concoction onto your hands, putting your curls in between them, and lightly pressing them together as if in prayer. 
• Grab a hair color applicator and use it for easier and more even application. 
• Don’t dry your hair after application with a blow dryeras the heat from the device can contribute to damaged curls. If possible, it’s best to let your hair air dry. 
• Never leave the treatment on longer than one hour to prevent it from drying out your hair.  
• Give your hair a deep condition after using the treatment to counteract the drying effects of its protein-packed ingredients. 

Want to see the Cherry Lola treatment in action? Check out this handy tutorial:

Does the Cherry Lola Treatment Have Any Drawbacks?

Naturals and natural hair influencers have sung the praises of the Cherry Lola treatment on social media and beyond! 

But like any other deep conditioning treatment, it does come with a few drawbacks. Here are a few important factors to consider before trying it: 

Protein-rich formula 

While this feature makes coily hair stronger, it can do more good than harm in folks with protein-sensitive hair. 

In this case, using this method can lead to brittle hair that’s prone to shedding. 

Potentially harmful effects of baking soda

Some curlies are also averse to the baking soda component of the treatment. 

Their main argument is that baking soda has a high pH balance of 9 while the scalp only has a pH balance of 5.5. 

Baking soda disrupts the scalp’s natural pH balance, leading to cuticle damage and hair breakage. 

Plus, it opens up or raises the hair cuticle, which allows the hair to absorb the treatment better but contributes to frizz and dryness. This sadly cancels out the moisturizing effects of the mixture. 

Our advice? Be cautious. There’s no harm in trying a beloved and tried-and-tested method like the Cherry Lola treatment, but you can customize it to your needs and goals. 

For instance, you can ditch the baking soda and go for a different cleansing agent. You can also leave it on for 10 minutes instead of 30 or 40. 

3 Options for Modified Cherry Lola Treatments

Got your heart set on trying the Cherry Lola recipe but hesitant to use baking soda? Want to maximize the treatment to its fullest potential? 

Try these modified Cherry Lola treatments to tweak the popular recipe in your favor: 

Use apple cider vinegar instead of baking soda

Some naturals prefer to use apple cider vinegar over baking soda since it has equally powerful clarifying properties minus the potentially damaging effects. 

On top of that, apple cider vinegar can also close the hair cuticles, restore the scalp’s pH balance, and reinvigorate lifeless curls! 

For this modified recipe, you can stick to the original treatment method and simply swap out the baking soda for two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.  

Exchange baking soda for bentonite clay

Bentonite clay is another haircare superstar! This natural clay deeply cleanses and gently exfoliates your hair while addressing flaky and irritated scalps. 

In this modified treatment, you can use one tablespoon or one cup of bentonite clay as a substitute for baking soda. 

Try the Cherry Lola Caramel treatment recipe

Ever heard of the caramel treatment? It uses mild, moisturizing ingredients to increase hydration, improve curl definition, reduce frizz, and add volume. 

Some curlies have combined it with the Cherry Lola treatment to get the best of both worlds! 

The recipe calls for all the ingredients of the Cherry Lola treatment as mentioned above along with the following.

• 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
• ½ tablespoon of raw honey
• 1 tablespoon of molasses 
• ¾ tablespoon of avocado
• ½ overripe banana
• 1 egg

You can skip the egg if you don’t want a protein overload. Thenmix all the ingredients in a blender and apply the mixture to your hair! 

Leave it on for one to two hours, then rinse it out. Make sure to use a deep conditioner to moisturize your hair afterward. 

FAQs About the Cherry Lola Treatment

How Often Should I Do the Cherry Lola Treatment?

This will depend on your hair type and hair porosity as well as your hair’s reaction to the treatment. 

If you have type 4 hair, you can do the Cherry Lola treatment as often as needed. 

Once you notice any frizz or lack of shine in your curls, it’s best to grab the ingredients and go through the steps right away. 

For folks with type 3 or type 4a hair, once or twice a month will suffice. 

Take note that if you have high-porosity hair, you can use the Cherry Lola treatment sparingly. 

Ten minutes once a month will allow you to reap its moisturizing benefits without compromising the overall health and quality of your hair. 

Is the Maximum Hydration Method the Same as the Cherry Lola Treatment?

Not quite! The Cherry Lola treatment and the Max Hydration Method (or the Maximum Hydration Method) are two distinct hair care methods.

While both focus on hydration and moisture retention, CLT is geared toward improving the strength and texture of natural hair. MHM, on the other hand, is designed to define curls and make natural hair more manageable. 

However, the Max Hydration Method does use the Cherry Lola treatment as the first step in its six-step process! Most naturals use the CLT once every two to four weeks and the MHM once a week. 

If you struggle with dry natural hair, it’s a good idea to incorporate both of these methods into your hair care regimen. 

Will Amino Acids in the Cherry Lola Treatment Regrow Hair?

Amino acids like arginine, glycine, lysine, and methionine can facilitate hair growth. All these organic compounds are found in Braggs Liquid Amino Acids, a vital ingredient in the Cherry Lola treatment!

Sadly, scientific research on the positive effects of applying amino acids directly onto hair remains pretty slim. But there are a few clinical studies and abundant anecdotal evidence to back these claims up.

What we know for certain is that amino acids can help boost hair health and allow you to grow stronger, more robust curls! 

Take Control of Your Dry, Frizzy Hair with the Cherry Lola Treatment 

The endless search for ways to combat frizz, dryness, and brittleness is a cross to bear for folks with coily, low-porosity hair. 

But there’s good news. You don’t have to purchase expensive products and hair masks to breathe new life into your locks. 

DIY protein treatments like the Cherry Lola treatment leave your hair plump and glossy! Better yet, it uses low-cost, nutrient-loaded ingredients to help you achieve your hair goals. 

Want to try tweaking it to address your hair’s unique needs? No problem! 

As long as you keep its basic hydration and moisturization properties intact, you can customize the treatment to your liking and get the luscious curls of your dreams! 

Discover more curly hair hacks! 

Take a look at some of these articles on the best care tips and products for curly hair:

• LCO vs LOC: Which Method Is Best for Your Hair?
• Rice Water For Curly Hair: How To Guide + Recipes
• 9 Best Curly Girl-Approved Protein Products For Treating Curly Hair